Dedicated Call User Interface (UI) for Organizing Collaborative Exchange During A Telephony or Softphone Call

Abstract

A method is provided for executing and organizing collaborative exchange during a telephone call utilizing a user interface (UI). A telephone call is placed, such that participants are connected. Audible content transmitted and received over a network for the telephone call. A user interface, representing the telephone call itself, is provided and is configured to allow collaborative exchange among participants of the telephone call. The telephone call is placed without having to set up a meeting session to facilitate collaborative exchange or without having to set up a web conference to facilitate collaborative exchange. The telephone call is placed without having to schedule in advance to allow for collaborative exchange. The user interface provides real time collaboration tools for collaboration exchange, and the collaboration tools do not have to be set up in advance.

Description

TRADEMARKS[0001]IBM® is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., U.S.A. Other names used herein may be registered trademarks, trademarks or product names of International Business Machines Corporation or other companies.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]Exemplary embodiments relate to communications and particularly to communications which provide a user interface for collaborative exchange during a call.[0004]2. Description of Background[0005]Currently, voice communication sessions (such as calling parties involving telephone(s) and softphone(s)) that leverage the computer as a supplementary collaborative device are typically supported by web conferences and, in an increasing venue, instant messaging applications. However, designing a dedicated call user interface (UI) that focuses on voice as the primary mode of communication while providing a supplementary computer collaborative experience has received less successful attention.[0...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, designing a dedicated call user interface (UI) that focuses on voice as the primary mode of communication while providing a supplementary computer collaborative experience has received less successful attention.

The coordination and integration of calling as a form of collaboration along with an instant messaging (IM) application has an awkward relationship with the instant messaging and collaboration tools within that application.

Some applications such as Skype do not treat the calling communication as a nested form of IM, yet it struggles to maintain a relationship between the call UI and other collaborative activities (such as instant messaging and screen sharing).

The undesirable consequences we are left with are: integrating the call and chat into one window which assumes the necessity of chat even if the chat is not being used; and not integrating the call and chat into one window whi

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